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Monday, January 30, 2017

Children's Choir (Ages 7-12)

Children develop their sight reading, ear training, and vocal skills in this singing ensemble. Songs learned will be performed at our Spring Concert. Often our choir is invited to perform at various community events. Past performances include Sea Port Village, Horton Plaza, Rancho Carlsbad, San Marcos Tree Lighting, Balboa Park December Nights, and Carlsbad Premium Outlets.

Monday, January 23, 2017

If you were asked to name an instrument, what would come to your mind first? Most people would think piano or violin or maybe guitar. Something that would be found in an orchestra or a band. It is interesting that the instrument that is most important in music training can sometimes be neglected. I'm referring to the instrument you were born with, your voice.

Your voice is important because it is integrally connected to your brain. Your voice does not sound without your brain engaged. This is why the singing voice should be your first instrument. In order for your voice to sing, your brain must first think the note. Thinking musically is called audiation. Learn more about audiation here. An example of audiation is when a song gets stuck in your head. You don't hear it out loud, you hear it in your brain.

The better you are at the skill of audiation, the better you are at singing and matching pitches. Singing then becomes the evidence that your brain is audiating. Singing is important to help us know that a student's brain is engaged in the musical process and shows us evidence of progress.

This is why Sound System focuses so much on the singing voice as preparation for other instrument learning and why instrument lessons seem to come easier to our kids.

What have been your experiences with learning an instrument? Was singing involved?

Speaking of singing, for those in our baby music class, here are the lyrics to the traditional song "Michael Finnigin":

There was an old mannamed Michael FinneganHe had whiskerson his chin-againThe wind came outand blew them in again.Poor old Michael Finnegan.

Monday, January 16, 2017

Did you know that a fetus begins moving to the rhythm of their mother's speech at six months? There is a strong connection that early between mother and child. A baby's hearing is tuned to a mother's voice and that voice and other voices the baby becomes familiar with (father's voice, other care giver's voice) provide comfort and even emotional nutrients for the infant. In the reverse, a baby's cry is tuned to the frequency that is most sensitive in a mother's ear. No wonder those mother's who are not usually light sleepers, suddenly can hear their baby cry in the middle of the night

These things are not by accident. A mother and infant are biologically designed for communication. This is so the needs of the infant can be met physically and emotionally. Singing soft melodies can nourish a child's brain development and provide them with feelings of love and comfort.

More research on singing to babies. Read about it, but more importantly, do it. It's good for them.

Here are a few words of familiar folk songs that you can use to communicate musically with your baby:

"My Bonnie"

My Bonnie lies over the oceanMy Bonnie lies over the seaMy Bonnie lies over the oceanOh, bring back my Bonnie to me

Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Music is learned like a language. The best time to start learning a language is birth to age 5. Babies begin decoding the sounds around them. The ears of an infant is even tuned to the sound of the mother's voice. This voice is soothing and comforting as well as a nutrient to the baby providing feeling of joy, love and hope.

A babies ear starts to listen for the sounds around and be able to think them in their brain. This process is called audiation. A music rich environment will provide a baby with the developing stimulus to think musically. When the brain and development of vocals are ready, a baby begins to imitate the sounds she has heard. In speech, we refer to this as babbling. In music, we can start to hear the sounds of singing. These beginning vocalizations develop overtime to sound more like words/songs and the brain begins to associate meaning with the sounds. Children begin to interact and communicate with these sounds.

This is the beginning of music education. It starts with providing stimulus for the brain, developing the ear, and vocalizing.

(Registration through the City of San Marcos Parks and Recreation Department)

Baby Music (0 - 15 months)

Designed for parents and their babies to take together, these weekly classes help you learn how to play musically with your baby. Each class features bouncing and rocking songs, wiggle and peek-a-boo games, and other fun activities for the two of you. This year curriculum increases your baby's curiosity about music, develops listening skills and a sense of beat, establishes a foundation for singing and musical thought, helps you form a closer bond with your baby, and gives you and your baby a chance to interact with other parents and babies.

Family Music for Toddlers (1 - 3 Years)Participate with your child each week in singing, chanting, moving, dancing, listening, and playing simple instruments. These weekly classes are action-filled for toddlers - full of energy, often on the move, always exploring and learning. All activities are designed to bridge the natural connection between music and movement through two years of curriculum. Two sessions currently available, with six classes each. Begins January 10th and 11th.

Celebrate your child’s love of nature and growing independence through activities involving the four seasons. Developed to build attention and self-expression, activities include singing, chanting, moving, focused listening, musical games, exploring musical instruments, creative movement and storytelling. This class nurtures your growing child’s ability to use language and participate in dramatic play within a musical context. Fall and Winter semesters of this class are taught with curriculum unique to that semester. We advise students to participate in at least two semesters of the Preschool Music Class before they move on to Music Makers. One session currently available, with six classes. Begins September 6th and 7th.

Children develop their sight reading, ear training, and vocal skills in this singing ensemble. Songs learned will be performed at our Spring Concert. Often our choir is invited to perform at various community events. Past performances include Sea Port Village, Horton Plaza, Rancho Carlsbad, San Marcos Tree Lighting, Balboa Park December Nights, and Carlsbad Premium Outlets. Space is limited. Will begin registering for Winter at the end of January.